What question did this study set out to answer?

To determine whether formal arrest deters future domestic violence or amplifies deviance as predicted by competing criminological theories.

The Specific Deterrent Effects of Arrest for Domestic Assault

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Randomized trial demonstrates reduced repeat violence in domestic assault suspects, indicating support for specific deterrence over labeling theory.

To determine whether formal arrest deters future domestic violence or amplifies deviance as predicted by competing criminological theories.
Field experiment randomly assigning eligible simple domestic assault suspects to one of three police responses: arrest, informal advice/mediation, or an order to leave the premises for eight hours.
Suspect behavior tracked over a six-month follow-up period using official police recidivism measures and direct victim reports.
Official criminal records showed that arrested suspects committed significantly less subsequent violence than suspects ordered to leave.
Victim reports demonstrated that arrested suspects engaged in significantly less subsequent violence compared to suspects who were advised.
Findings contradict deviance amplification models of labeling theory and support specific deterrence predictions in offenders with high rates of prior domestic and criminal offenses.

Sherman et al. (1984) studied this question.

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Randomized trial demonstrates reduced repeat violence in domestic assault suspects, indicating support for specific deterrence over labeling theory.